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Summary

Workhouse built in 1836. It became Box House Hospital in the early 20th century and later St Mary's Hospital. It was demolished in 1998. There are documentary references to earlier workhouses in Axminster, at Gamberlake in the 18th century and to a site on West Street close to the churchyard in 1800.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SY29NE/52

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• WORKHOUSE (Built, XIX - 1836 AD to 1836 AD)

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

Axminster Union Workhouse marked on 1880s-1800s 25 inch Ordnance Survey map.

Ordnance Survey, 1904 - 1906, Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map (Cartographic). SDV325644.

'Axminster Union Workhouse' shown.

Cornish, R., 1930 - 1931, Axminster Churchwardens' Accounts, 380 (Article in Serial). SDV131252.

Lease of workhouse taken by churchwardens of Axminster in 1738 for 40 years. Old map of 1770 shows workhouse in garden of Gamberlake House which was built later.

Ordnance Survey, 1938, 72NW. Revision of 1903 with additions in 1938. Provisional Edition (Cartographic). SDV335896.

'Mental Institution' shown.

Ordnance Survey, 1963, Ordnance Survey 6 inch map (Cartographic). SDV166087.

St Mary's Hospital shown.

Weddell, P. J., 1991, Archaeological Appraisal of Potential Development Areas in Axminster and its Environs, 10 (Report - Assessment). SDV99927.

The hospital originated as Axminster Union Workhouse, which was in existence by 1770 but may have been built as early as 1738. It later became Box House Hospital and is shown as "Mental Institution" on the 1904 os map. Other details: Figure 7.

Dick, A. M., 1998, Axminster Union Workhouse (Personal Comment). SDV342581.

St. Mary's Hospital. Demolished for housing development in 1998. Photographs in parish file .

Spencer, S., 1998, St Mary's Hospital Axminster (Ground Photograph). SDV342582.

Exeter Archaeology, 2008, Archaeological Assessment of Land off Duke's Way, Axminster, Devon, 5-6 (Report - Assessment). SDV342566.

Other details: Site 10, figure 7.

Historic England, 2015-2016, NRHE to HER prototype (Website). SDV359652.

Summary description
Axminster Union Workhouse was built in 1836 to 1838. Sampson Kempthorne was the architect. The building could hold 300 people. It was later known as the Axminster Poor Law Institute, and then as St Mary Hospital. As of the early 21st Century, most of the original building has been demolished except for part of the entrance block.

Full description
Axminster Workhouse was built in 1836 to 1838, Sampson Kempthorne was the architect. The building could hold 300 people. It was later known as the Axminster Poor Law Institute, and then as St Mary Hospital. As of the early 21st Century, most of the original building has been demolished except for part of the entrance block. (1)

Sources
1 World Wide Web page Higginbotham, Peter. 2000.The Workhouse.<http://www.workhouses.org.uk/> [Accessed 26-SEP-2005]
2 The Workhouse: a study of Poor Law Buildings in England 60, 203
2 Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments Uncatalogued Archive File - Workhouses 101681

Monument types, periods and evidence
WORKHOUSE Built 1836-38 1836 VICTORIAN 1838 VICTORIAN DESTROYED MONUMENT, EXTANT BUILDING, DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE
WORKHOUSE Demolished C20 1900 20TH CENTURY 1900 20TH CENTURY DESTROYED MONUMENT, DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE

Related monuments
None recorded

Related events
None recorded

Related archives/objects
is related to BF101681 Axminster Union Workhouse, Axminster

Actors
Architect SAMPSON KEMPTHORNE HE NRHE Monument Inventory 01-01-1836 31-12-1838

Metadata
When created 26-SEP-05
Created by Inventory

Knapman, D., 2018, A Town Shaped by Water, 2, 9 (Report - non-specific). SDV361670.

The new Axminster Union Workhouse was built in 1836. An earlier workhouse stood on West Street, close to the churchyard which is referred to in a survey of the Town Leat of 1800.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4523 - Archaeological Assessment of Land off Duke's Way, Axminster, Devon

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